Columbia, MD – The Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services (HCDFRS) and the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) today collaborated on “Stop the Bleed” training for high school students, the first jurisdiction in Maryland to implement this training through health education. This effort aligns with the 9th grade “Safety & Injury Prevention” curriculum requiring every student “to demonstrate the ability to respond appropriately to emergency situations.”
“Partnering with our schools is a priority for Howard County,” said Howard County Executive Allan H. Kittleman. “I’m proud that our schools and public safety departments have strong relationships that affect positive change. Risk reduction programs such as ‘Stop the Bleed’ and public access to life safety resources creates educational opportunities to prevent injuries, assist others and make a real difference.”
This educational program is modeled after the current and successful Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training taught by health teachers to high school students. HCDFRS and HCPSS will utilize a train-the-trainer model, consisting of HCDFRS personnel training HCPSS high school health teachers; the teachers will then teach the skill to their students.
“Safety and Security requires a multi-prong approach and as we improve the physical security of our schools and add mental health services, it is also critical that we are prepared for emergencies,” said HCPSS Superintendent Michael J. Martirano. “This program is a wonderful example of County government and the school system partnering to support our emergency preparedness efforts.”
“We have been successful in stocking the schools with Stop the Bleed kits and training over 3,500 community members over the past two years,” said Fire Chief John S. Butler. “The natural next step is making sure students are aware of the kits and how to properly use them in the event of an emergency. This program will ensure Howard County students are educated and prepared.”
HCDFRS has provided HCPSS with the resources (written materials, presentations, and Stop the Bleed training kits) to teach and practice the skill. This program will involve the training of approximately 20 teachers who will then educate approximately 4500 students county-wide in life threatening bleeding control identification, instruction and skill practice.
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